Self-propelled multi-purpose percussion unit



L. K. SPITZER March 9, 1965 5 Sheens-Sheetl l ATTORNEY L. K. SPITZER March 9, 1965 SELF-PROPELLEID MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed June 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. LAWRENCE K. SPITZER ATTORNEY March 9, 1965 l.. K. sPlTzER 3,172,483

SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed June 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTon LAWRENCE/ SPITZE/Q ATTORNEY Y L. K. SPITZER March 9, 1965 SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 26, 1961 INVENToR. LAwRfwcE K SP/TZER M ATTORNEY March 9, 1965 K. sPlTzER 3,172,433

SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed June 26. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. LAWRENCE K. P/rzsn Arrow/vnv United States Patent sanftes SELF-PRPELLED lViULTI-PURPOSE EERCUSSN UNET Lawrence K. Spitzer', Arapahoe County, near Denver,

Colo., assigner to Arrow Manufacturing Company, Denver, Colm, a corporation of Colorado Filed .inne 26, 1961, Ser. No. 119,663 3 Claims. (Cl. 173-43) The present invention relates general-ly to improvements in powered percussion tools of a type heretofore in use for a variety `of purposes, such as the tamping of fills, cutting and breaking of pavements, driving of posts and pilings, and the like, and relates more particularly to the provision of a novel and improved unitary organization of such a tool characterized by enhanced operative adaptability and exceptional practical advantage.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel land improved operative association of a powered multipurpose percussion tool with a self-propelled carriage which is relatively simple in construction and exceedingly efficient and versatile in its adaptations and use.

Various arrangements have heretofore been proposed wherein a percussion tool in the form of a reciprocable ram or hammer guided for movement -in a vertical frame or tower is mounted on a self-,propelled carriage. In some of these self-propelled percussion devices, the hammer `tower or `frame is fixed in a true vertical position with respect to its wheeled carrying vehicle, and swinging movement of the tower for working purposes is therefore not possible. Thus, the versatility and use of the machine is undesirably restricted, and limitations are necessarily imposed on the type of operations which may be performed, the effectiveness with which the work may be accomplished, the time required for the ,performance of the work, and even the location in which and the coni ditions under which the device may actually be used.

Some of these objections have been successfully overcome by providing instrumentalities for swinging the hammer and its guide frame .about an axis extending transversely of the carrying vehicle as well as about an axis extending longitudinally thereof while also providing means for folding the ltower or a portion thereof over the top of the carrying vehicle and into a position substantially parallel therewith as disclosed, for example, in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,928,322,dated March l5, 1960, as well as in various other patents. This tilting or swinging of the hammer tower in longitudinal and transverse planes relative to the carriage permits effective operation of the device on uneven terrain and over a reasonably wide operating area, and, as a result, the device disclosed in Patent No. 2,928,322, as well as in some of `the other prior patents has, in fact, enjoyed considerable commercial success and widespread acceptance. However, the instrumentalities and operating mechanisms for effecting tilting or swinging of the hammer tower and leads in these .prior devices are quite complicated, costly and bulky with relatively large power cylinders being required for operation of the hammer and for effecting swinging movement of the tower. Furthermore, while these devices are unquestionably an improvement over the devices embodying a fixed tower, they are still somewhat lacking in flexibility and versatility, and the actuating instrumentalities are generally not compactly mounted or readily accessible.

In other instances, it has been proposed to carry the vertically-movable hammer and its guided frame or tower within a framework permitting transverse movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle while also providing for pivotal movement of the tower about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle as well as for pivotal or swinging movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle as shown in United States Patent No. 2,805,847, dated September l0, 1957. However, the means for adjustably effecting lateral movement of the tower in these prior devices have all proven inefficient for various reasons, and numerous problems have been encountered in providing for the swinging movement of the tower and the hammer carried thereby as well as in providing the necessary rigidity and strength. The commercial success of these devices has accordingly thus `far -been quite limited.

It is therefore an important object of my .present invention to provide an improved self-propelled percussion unit which obviates all of the above-mentioned disadvantages and objections of prior devices of this general type.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selectively-adjustable, laterally-movable and universally-swingable mounting for a percussion tool in powered relation with a self-propelled carriage or vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved correlation with a selectively-adjustable percussion tool of means effective to power the hammer element of the tool from the prime mover of an associated self-propelled carriage with utmost precision from a single control station in every operative disposition of 4the tool within the range of its adjustability.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means effective to operatively correlate a percussion tool unit with la self-propelled, powering carriage for optional traverse of the tool unit laterally of the carriage and for selective adjustment of said unit through vertical arcs both laterally and longitudinally of the carriage in any and every position of its lateral traverse, a-ll operative par-ts being compactly arranged for most efiicient operation and accessibility.

A further object of `the invention is to provide a novel and improved laterally-traversablle and laterallyand longitudinally-rockable mounting for a percussion tool unit in operative association with a self-propelleled and powered carriage that is amenable to selective actuation through either or both manual and automatic controls, the actuating instrumentalities all being mounted on a common carrier member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and operative correlation of elements constituting a multi-purpose, self-propelled .percussion tool organization of Iunique practical utility, versatility and efficiency.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide an improved multi-purpose and self-.propelled percussion to-ol organization which is suceptible of expedient production in an extensive size range from readily-available materials, elements and sub-assemblies, which is operatively complete in a self-powered and unitary integration, which moreover utilizes a single prime mover to accomplish all of its functions, and which is extremely rugged and durable in use, flexible and accurately responsive in operation, and efficiently rapid, positive and economical in attainment of its purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, defined in the appended claims, 'and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Which- FIGURE 1 is an elevational View, in moderate perspective, of the operating, or front, end of a typical embodiment of the invention as organized ready for practical use, alternative operating dispositions of the percussion tool unit within the ladjustable range of the organization being indicated by broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the organization according to FIGURE 1 with a portion of the car- Patented Mar. 9, 1965 riage not essential to an understanding of the invention being broken away to conserve space and with alternative dispositions of the percussion tool unit within the adjustable range thereof again indicated by broken lines;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional View, on a relatively-enlarged scale, taken in a generally vertical plane transversely of the organization and substantially on the indicated line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, certain of the illustrated components being broken away to disclose otherwise concealed relationships;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of the structure according to FIGURE 3 with certain features of the latter view omitted and certain of the structural elements broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in a staggered vertical plane taken substantially on the indicated line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, detail section, on a further enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, detail section taken substantially on the indicated line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 showing, on a further enlarged scale, a hammer lock feature of the apparatus as retracted to free the hammer for use; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 showing the hammer lock feature as applied to immobilize the hammer.

Incident to many construction, repair and maintenance operations, a powered tool of pile-driver type operable to repettiously deliver heavy impacts is effective for the conservation of time, labor and expense. The hammer element of such a tool may be applied to drive posts, pilings, and the like, in a usual manner; and when equipped with suitable chisel adjuncts, the hammer may be applied to cut and trench through pavements of diverse composition. Also, when furnished with an impact nose, the hammer may operate to crush and break pavements and other solid matter; and when armed with a ramping foot the hammer may be applied to pack and firm fills of loose materials. Operatively correlated with and powered from a dirigible automotive vehicle, a percussion tool of the type described is especially advantageous and eifective when amenable to selective adjustment angularly in vertical planes both longitudinal and transverse of the Vehicle, and the instant invention is thus directed to the provision of a novel and improved operative association of a percussion tool unit and an automotive carriage effectual to realize the benefits of such selective adjustments with practicality and distinctive facility.

Accordingly, while the improvements constituting the present invention have been shown and described herein as being especially advantageously applicable for use with road-working equipment employing a tamping tool and propelled by a particular type of wheeled carriage, it is apparent that the invention has a more widespread application and use, and it is not intended to unnecessarily restrict the same by reason of such limited embodiments. It is also intended that certain specific descriptive terms used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Signicant to the operative organization and the intended use of the present invention is an automotive-type carrier appropriate to translatably mount and equipped to power a percussion tool unit of pile-driver type, and a typical vehicle adapted for such purpose is schematically shown in the drawings as comprising, in general, a rigid, frame-supported deck mounted for translation in a generally-horizontal attitude on transverse axles terminating in powered traction wheels 21 and steerable wheels 22, the carrier being powered by a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, covered by a hood 23, adapted to drive the Wheels 21, and furnished with the usual adjunctive facilities and controls requisite to qualify the translatable assembly for use as an automotive vehicle under the direction of an operator. In accordance with conventional practice, an hydraulic pressure system, not shown, which is driven in a suitable manner by the prime mover, is provided to maintain a supply of variably-regulable fluid pressure for selective actuation of hydraulic rams, hydraulic motors, and the like, and the prime mover power is additionally utilized for propulsion of the translatable assembly to accommodate selective advance and reversal of assembly travel at -any one of a wide range of speeds from a creeping progress at but few feet per minute to velocities accordant with customary highway transport. However constituted, the automotive carriage for mounting and powering the percussion tool in accordance with the principles of the present invention is characterized generally by a horizontal, translatable deck area at which is herein termed the forward end of the carriage in a disposition suited to receive and to support tool-mounting structure, power means selectively actuable for the translation of the carriage, and an hydraulic pressure system operable by the power means. At the opposite sides of the forward end of the deck 20 are paired, similar hinge brackets projecting generally in a forward and upward direction, each of the brackets being formed by a strut leg 24 rigidly secured at one end to the deck and converging at the upper end thereof with the outer end of a leg 25 also rigidly secured to the deck. At the junction of each pair of legs 24, 25 is a hinge eye 26 having its axis perpendicular to the common plane of the legs, the hinge eyes 26 of the brackets being alined -to thus form spaced determinants of an axis of articulation for the hammer tower frame F as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The tower-carrying frame F is characterized by a pair of complementary, spaced, parallel track members 27, ,'23 rigid-ly interconnected at their corresponding ends by end plates 29, 36 which are in lturn rigidly interconnected by beams 31, 32 which extend between the end walls and lie paralled to the track members, the beams 31, 32 being further braced 4by bridging fixtures 33, 34 intermediate their ends. The bridging iixtures 33, 34 are properly spaced and formed for coactive registration with the bracket legs 24 rigidly supported by the deck of the vehicle as hereinabove described, and hinge pins 35 connect the fixtures 33, 34- with the eyes 26 of the brackets so as to hingedly support the generally-rectangular frame F at the front of the vehicle. As thus supported by the pivot pins 35 on the fonyardly-extending brackets 24, 25, .the frame F is selectively and angularly adjustable about the hinge axis by means of an hydraulic ram 36 pivotally and operatively engaged between an apcrtured iixed component 37 carried by the frame F and a suitable attachment carried by the deck 20, the hydraulic ram thus being extensible in a direction generally longitudinal of the vehicle for swinging the frame F about the hinge pivots 35, and it should be understood that the hydraulic ram is operable by `conventional manually-actuable controls associated with the hydraulic pressure ysystem of the vehicle. The hammer-carrying frame is accordingly swingable by hydraulic pressure applied through the ram 36 from a substantially vertical position to a generally horizontal position as indicated *by broken lines lin FIG. 2. To lirnit initial angular displacement of the frame F in its movement, a drag link 33 *ringed on a horizontal axis to a fixed member of the frame F is arranged to slide at its free end along one of the inclined `bracket legs 25 into engagement against a fixed stop 39 on Athe leg Z5, and to permit further swinging movement of the frame F to its generally horizontal position, 'the drag link may be manipulated manually to clear and pass over the said stop.

As shown, the track members 27, 23 are rectangular in transverse section and are rigidly secured between the end walls 29, 3d in diagonal relationship whereby they form upper and lower V-shaped ways for the positioning and slidable support of a .traveler or carriage assembly, generally designated T, adapted to traverse the yframe F in both directions therealong between the end plates 29, 30. Organized for sole support upon and slidable coaction with the track members 27, 28, the carriage or traveler T is constituted as a rigid, relatively-wide, flat plate 40 formed with a coextensive inturned top llange 41 of V-shape conforming with the V-shaped way termed by the upwardly directed corner of the track member 27, the flange 4l being provided with suitable replaceable wear plates 41 covering the bearing areas thereof. Detachably secured along t-he ylower end of the plate 4i) is an attachment 42 `carrying `an inturned ange 43, also furnished with replaceable wear plates 43', the flange 43 being of V-shape to conform with the V-shaped way formed by the downwardly directed corner of the track member 28, lwhereby the traveler T is secured on the track members 27, 28 in full `forward exposure relative to the frame F with facility of appropriate attention to maintenance, repair and rehabilitation requirements.

Selective actuation and adjustable positioning of the traveler T longitudinally of and along the frame F transversely of the forward end of the associated vehicle is accomplished by means of an hydraulic motor 44 of conventional reversible type xed to and adjacent an upper outer corner of the frame F, the power shaft of the motor being perpendicular to :and intersecting the plane established by the V-shaped lways fonmed by the oppositelydirected corners of the track members 27, 2S. The motor 44 is conventionally connected through lines 45 and manually-actuable controls with the hydraulic pressure system of the vehicle to effect optional rotation, in either direction, of a sprocket 46 connected to the motor power shaft. For moving the traveler T along the ways 27, 28 of the frame F, a chain 47 is attached at one end, las at 47', to an integral 'lug on the traveler T adjacent the motor 44 'andpis passed in engagement with and `about an idler sprocket 48 carried by the end 30 of the frame F beneath the motor 44 to coaetion with and about an idler sprocket 49 carried by the traveler T above the point of initial chain attachment thereto and then about the motor `sprocket 46 and longitudinally Iof the frame F between the track members 27, 28 and about an idler sprocket 5t) carried by the end 29 of the frame F remote from the motor` 44 where it is again reversed and passed Iabout an idler sprocket 51, carried 4by the ,traveler T in opposition to the sprocket 49, and finally about `another yidler sprocket 52 carried by the end 29 of the frame F beneath the sprocket t) and back to a fixed terminal connection 47 at the side of the traveler T remote from the motor 44 and adjacent the point of initial chain attachment thereto. As so organized, travel of the chain length 47 in reaction to drive of the sprocket 46 by the motor 44 is etective about a pair of spaced axes at each end of the trame F and at spaced points at each side of the traveler T to shift the traveler on the track members 27, 28 in either direction along the frame `F in response to regulation of motor operation selectively applied under the control of an operator through the controls conventionally provided. Known techniques of the related art may, of course, be availed of to automatically interrupt operation of the motor 44 when the traveler T reaches end limits of its traverse on the frame F and to furthermore automatically reverse motor operation at the end of vits travel, if desired, to thus provide yfor steady traveler translation in either `direction from one end to the other end of the frame F.

The percussion tool unit includes a structurally unique organization of leads, hammer, and hammer-actuating means adapted for mul-ti-purpose use in the form of an adjustable tower or hammer guide frame mounted on and carried by the traveler T in powered relation with the hydraulie pressure system of the automotive vehicle. In an extremely compact and versatile arrangement of high praeticality and wide utility, the tool unit of the invention ineludes a pair of similar spaced uprights 53 formed of angle iron or the like of suitable length and permanent-ly and rigidly interconnected at opposite ends with their exterior angle corners inwardly opposed and registered in spaced parallelism to constitute hammer leads or tracks ot generally V-shaped cross-section. The hammer tracks are bridged by a cap member 54 tixedly secured to one end thereof with a shallow U-shaped yoke 55 rigidly uniting and bracing the tracks 53 adjacent the opposite end remote trom the member 54, the bridging portion of the yoke 55 being olset so as not to interfere with movement of the hammer along the tracks. The framework constituted by the spaced tracks 53 land bridging members 54, 55 thus forms a tower for reciprocably guiding a massive hammer 56 formed with outwardly divergent, V-shaped channels S7 slidably coacting with the opposed corners of the tracks 73, and a sheave operatively journalled in a housing 58 carried by the cap member 54 coacts with a cable S9 extended thereover, one end of the cable 59 being attached to the adjacent end of the ham-mer 56 for the application of power through the cable to raise the hammer along the tracks 53 of the tower in a manner hereinafter more fully described. At its end remote from the cap member 54, the hammer 56 is provided with a tool-receiving chuck or clamp dil adapted `for the interchangeable correlation of diverse selected tools in operative relation to the hammer 56 Vfor movement therewith to apply impacts of the hammer with desired work effect.

The hammer-carrying Vtower is operatively engaged with the plate 40 of the traveler T by means of another shallow U-shaped yoke 61, similar to but much wider than the yoke 55, 4correspondingly rigidly secured to the paired tracks 53 and spanning the same in laterally-odset relation, the yoke 61 having a central, rearwardly-extending, ixed trunnion 62 pivotally received in a tubular barrel 63 carried by the plate 49. The rails or tracks 53 of the hammer tower are thus supported a spaced distance above the ground and the entire tower assemblage is carried by the traveler T through the pivotal connection with the plate 40 Ifor movement along the frame F laterally or transversely of the vehicle. The barrel 63 pivotally supports the trunnion 62 for oscillation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the frame F and extends rearwardly therefrom, and the trunnion 62 is preferably provided with anges 64, 66 serving as thrust blocks or bearings with the trunnion 62 being detachably secured in position, as by means of a cap nut 65, or the like. In addition to its function of pivotally or swinga'bly supporting the hammer tower as above described through the trunnion 62, the barrel 63 additionally serves as a convenient mounting 'for the idler sprockets 49, 5l and the connections 47', 47 with the terminal ends of the chain 47, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

To swing or oscillate Ithe hammer tower assembly about the axis perpendicular tothe plane of the iframe F as provided by the trunnion 62 and barrel 63, an hydraulic ram 67 is operatively and pivotally linked between a pivot eye 68 fixed to the traveler plate 4t) adjacent one of the upper corners thereof and a pivot eye 69 provided in the upper end of an arm 70 lixedly supported in upstanding condition by the yoke 6l. The ram 67 is thus carried entirely by the traveler and the yoke 6l of the hammer tower, and this ram is served by lines 71 which connect through conventional manually-actuable controls with the hydraulic pressure syste-m of the vehicle so as to permit selective operation of the ram for rocking the tool unit assembly, or tower, in either direction about the axis of its trunnion 62 in a plane parallel to that of the trame F, the swinging movement of the tower being limited only by the extensible and retractable range of the ram 67. Again, it is apparent that by reason of the assemblage thus described the hammer tower and all of its attendant parts and actuating mechanism are movable together with the traveler T along the tracks of the trame F transversely of the carrying vehicle, and the hammer envases assembly is additionally swingable to selected angular positions relative to the traveler T about an axis which extends in general parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and transversely of the plane of the frame F.

The hammer 56 in powered for delivery of impacts incident to its reciprocation along the tracks 53 of the tower by an hydraulic lifting ram 72 lixedly supported upon and extending upwardly from Ia bracket '73 fixed 'to the upper margin of the yoke 6l adjacent the junction of the arm 75l therewith, whereby the ram is mounted as a fixed component of the tool, or tower unit assembly and is always retained in axially-parallel relation with the tracks 53 in any and all of the positions of the tower assembly. A plurality of idler sheaves 74 is fixedly attached adjacent the base of the ram 72 to the bracket 73 for rotation about a common axis parallel to the bracket 73 and complementary idler sheaves 75 rotatable about a similarly-disposed axis are carried by the extensible and retractable end of said ram for travel therewith, the sheaves 75 being applied to eifect desired actuation of the hammer by reeving that portion of the cable 59 passing away from the hammer 56 and over the sheave carried by the cap member 54 alternately about, between and over the individual sheaves 7d, 75 to terminal attachment in fixed relation with the traveler T, thus establishing a plurality of cable bights 59', illusrtated as three in number, longitudinally embracing the ram 72 for simultaneous elongation in an obvious manner and consequent elevation of the hammer 56 at the other end of the cable when the ram is extended to increase the separation of the sheaves 74 and 75. The extensible range of the ram and the number of bights 59 are so correlated as to raise the hammer 56 from the lower to the upper end of the tracks 53 `at each full actuation of the ram, and the ram 72 is operatively connected by lines '76 through a manually-actuable control 77 with the hydraulic pressure system of the vehicle, the hammer thus being raised by fluid pressure and being allowed to drop by gravity upon release of such pressure. Simple manipulation of the single control 77 is therefore effective to extend the ram, accommodate retraction of the ram, selectively vary the llinear measure of ram extension and retraction, and to optionally immobilize said ram at any stage of its operative range, all with corresponding elfect on the hammer linked to the ram by the cable 59. Within the scope of available skill and known practice, liuid pressure supply to and actuation of the ram '72 may be regulated by supplemental control means, indicated at 78, automatically effective to cycle operation of the ram for repetitions elevation and drop of the hammer through a determined travel range, or stroke, susceptible of optional variation by appropriate adjustment of the supplemental means 7 3. immobilization of the hammer 56 in mounted relation on and between the tracks 53 independently of the influence of the cable 59 and ram 72 is frequently desirable, and provision for locking the hammer against shifting along the tracks is had through an expedient arrangement exemplied in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings. As shown, the hammer lock includes a plate 79 fixed to bridge the diverging rear edges of one of the tracks 53 above and adjacent the connection of the yoke 61 thereto, the plate 79 being formed with a hole extending through the corner, or apex, of the associated track 53 and opening to the vertex path of the corresponding hammer channel 57, and a cylindrical bolt Sil is slidably and rotatably received in the registering holes. llhis latch bolt Sii is provided with a manipulating handle S1 secured 'to its outer end and extending laterally of the bolt a sucient distance to permit convenient gripping thereof for manual rotation. The bolt Si) is formed with a pair of spaced annular channels 32, 83 joined by a single axial channel Se to thus form a continuous slot adapted to receive the inner end of a threaded stud SS carried by the plate 79 so as to intrude radially into the hole intersecting the plate 79. Spaced inwardly of the handled end of the bolt il an appropriate distance, the annular groove or channel 82 is adapted to receive and coact with the inner end of the stud 65 to position and revolvably retain the bolt in its retracted and inactive position, as shown in FIGURE 7, thus permitting free reciprocation of the hammer 56 along the tracks 53. Upon rotation of the latch bolt by means of the handle 8l thereof to a position wherein the inner end of the stud S5 registers with the axial channel or groove 34, the latch bolt 30 may be moved axially inwardly in the alined holes formed in the plate 79 and apex of the track S3, the hammer 56 being formed with an appropriate pocket or recess 316 at the vertex of its channel 57 for receiving the nose of the bolt Sti to thereby lock the hammer in position relative to the tracks 53. The hammer is thus locked against free reciprocation, and to prevent inadvertent displacement of the latch bolt from its locking position, the handle ill may again be manipulated to rotate the bolt d@ and place 'the projecting end of the stud S5 within the annular groove 33, as shown in FIGURE 8.

From the foregoing detailed description it is believed apparent that the present invention contemplates the provision of a self-propelled percussion unit which is extremely versatile and wherein the percussion tool is enabled to be adjusted to almost any desired position and angle relative to the carrying vehicle. The improvements contemplate the provision of a device in which all of 'the mechanism, including actuating devices therefor, are compactly mounted for most effective service and most efficient use on a single frame l?, and by this arrangement the hammer-actuating mechanism, as well as the power devices for positioning adjustment, is greatly simplified. It is further apparent that assemblages constructed in accordance with the invention, permit selective movement of the tool transversely or laterally across the end of the vehicle while furthermore permitting selective angular adjustment of the tool unit in generally vertical planes both transverse of the vehicle as Well as longitudinal thereof, and within the range of its adjustment the tool may be moved to a position at one side or the other of the drivers seat and then swung to a substantially horizontal position for highway travel. The hammer additionally may be conveniently and quickly locked relative to its tracks and against reciprocation Whenever desired, and all of the power operation may be conveniently controlled within desired limits from a central station convenient to the operator. The improved devices have moreover been placed in actual commercial use and have met with widespread acceptance and commercial success.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, an automotive vehicle having a fluid pressure system and upstanding brackets flxedly paired on and spaced apart transversely of one end of said vehicle, a rigid, elongated frame including a pair of spacedly-parallel longitudinal tracks, complementary hinge components on said frame and brackets coacting to support said frame with its tracks horizontal laterally of and outwardly from the vehicle to swing on a horizontal axis transverse of the vehicle, a hydraulic ram served by said system connected beneath and perpendicular to said axis between said frame and vehicle selectiveiy actuable to vary and determine angular adjustment of the frame about said axis through a vertical arc outwardly and upwardly relative to the vehicle ranging between substantially vertical and substantially hori- Zontal dispositions of 'the frame, a hat, rigid plate slidably and retentively engaged at opposite margins with said tracks over and parallel to the face of said frame remote from the vehicle as a traveler shiftable on the frame laterally of the vehicle, said plate being formed with a tubular barrel axially perpendicular 'thereto in extension therefrom between the tracks, a hydraulic motor served by said system secured to and between the tracks of said frame, flem'ble drive means interlinking said motor and the barrel of said plate for translation of the latter along the tracks in reflection of motor actuation, a hammer tower having elongated tracks in parallel spaced relationship and a yoke iixedly transversely spanning said tracks, a trunnion centrally of and axially perpendicular to the side of said yoke remote from the tower tracks engaged and revolvably retained in the barrel of the traveler plate, whereby to support said tower on, parallel to, and for translation with the plate with provision for oscillation of the tower about an aXis perpendicular to the plate, a hydraulic ram served by said system operatively interlinking said yoke and plate and selectively actuable to vary and determine angular adjustment of the tower about its pivotal support axis, a hammer reciprocable in said tower, and a hydraulic ram xedly associated with said yoke in connection to said hammer selectively actuable to regulate reciprocatory travel of the latter.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said yoke mounts a tixedly-related arm directed generally upwardly thence away from and substantially radially of the trunnion parallel to and. adjacent the plane of said plate, and the ram operatively interlinking 'the yoke and plate pivotally connects at its ends with and spans at an inclination to the horizontal between the end of said arm remote from the yoke and a contiguous laterally-outward corner of the plate, whereby selective actuation of the ram will cause oscillation of the yoke and associated hammer tower about the axis of the trunnion through a predetermined range of angular adjustment.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said yoke mounts a Xedly-related bracket extending in the same direction as and parallel t0 the trunnion spacedly superjacent and across the traveler plate and the ram actuable t0 regulate hammer travel relative to the tower is secured at one end of said bracket in extension away from said plate with the axis of ram operation spacedly parallel to the longitudinal median line of the tower, whereby a predetermined operative correlation of the hammer-actuating ram and hammer tower throughout the full available range of tower position adjustment is maintained.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,477 9/41 Ferguson 173-22 2,348,820 5/44 Jordan et al. 173--53 2,659,583 11/53 Dorkins 94-49X 2,659,584 ll/53 Dorkins 173-28 2,805,847 9/57 Malloy 173-22 2,832,567 4/58 Fletcher 173--160 2,928,322 3/60 Spitzer 94-49 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HAVING A FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEM AND UPSTANDING BRACKETS FIXEDLY PAIRED ON AND SPACED APART TRANSVERSELY OF ONE END OF SAID VEHICLE, A RIGID, ELONGATED FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACEDLY-PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL TRACKS, COMPLEMENTARY HINGE COMPONETS ON SAID FRAME AND BRACKETS COACTING TO SUPPORT SAID FRAME WITH THE TRACKS HORIZONTAL LATERALLY OF AND OUTWARDLY FORM THE VEHICLE TO SWING ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS TRANSVERSE ON THE VEHICLE, A HYDRAULIC RAM SERVED BY SAID SYSTEM CONNECTED BENEATH AND PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND VEHICLE SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE TO VARY AND DETERMINED ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE FRAME ABOUT SAID AXIS THROUGH A VERTICAL ARC OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE RANGING BETWEEN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DISPOSITIONS OF THE FRAME, A FLAT, RIGID PLATE SLIDABLY AND RETENTIVELY ENGAGED AT OPPOSITE MARGINS WITH SAID TRACKS OVER AND PARALLEL TO THE FACE OF SAID FRAME REMOTE FROM THE VEHICLE AS A TRAVELER SHIFTABLE ON THE FRAME LATERALLY OF THE VEHICLE, SAID PLATE BEING FORMED WITH A TUBULAR BARREL AXIALLY PERPENDICULAR THERETO IN EXTENSION THEREFROM BETWEEN THE TRACKS, A HYDRAULIC MOTOR SERVED BY SAID SYSTEM SECURED TO AND BETWEEN THE TRACKS OF SAID FRAME, FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEANS INTERLINKING SAID MOTOR AND THE BARREL OF SAID PLATE FOR TRANSLATION OF THE LATTER ALONG THE TRACKS IN RELFECTION OF MOTOR ACTUATION, A HAMMER TOWER HAVING ELONGATED TRACKS IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP AND A YOKE FIXEDLY TRANSVERSELY SPANNING SAID TRACKS, A TRUNNION CENTRALLY OF AND AXIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDE OF SAID YOKE REMOTE FROM THE TOWER TRACKS ENGAGED AND REVOLVABLY RETAINED IN THE BARREL OF THE TRAVELER PLATE, WHEREBY TO SUPPORT SAID TOWER ON, PARALLEL TO, AND FOR TRANSLATION WITH THE PLATE WITH PROVISION FOR OSCILLATION OF THE TOWER ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLATE, A HYDRAULIC RAM SERVED BY SAID SYSTEM OPERATIVELY INTERLINKING SAID YOKE AND PLATE AND SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE TO VARY AND DETERMINE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE TOWER ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL SUPPORT AXIS, A HAMMER RECIPROCABLE IN SAID TOWER, AND A HYDRAULIC RAM FIXEDLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID YOKE IN CONNECTION TO SAID HAMMER SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE TO REGULATE RECIPROCATORY TRAVEL OF THE LATTER. 